Projection system



May 12, 1942. F. E. WELLER PROJECTION SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1. 1930 ll wf ATT RNEYS' Patented May 12, 1942 PROJECTION SYSTEM Frank E. Weller, Bloomfield, N. 1.,

assignor to Trans-Luz Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 1, 1930, Serial No. 432,328 (or. 88-24) 24 Claims.

This invention relates to a system for projecting images of printed news matter and the like. One of the objects of the invention involves the provision of a practical and eflicient system of this type capable of projecting images of printed matter and the like with a high light intensity. Another object of the invention involves the provision of a simple projection system which may be conveniently and efllciently operated with a Dow-Jones ticker or similar news tickers, or equivalent, and it shall be understood that references in the appended claims to the printing of characters isto be considered generically descriptive of the production of characters by any of said tickers, or equivalent .deyices. Various further objects, features and advantages will appear in considering the drawings forming part of this application and the accompanying detailed description thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation taken from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailvie-w of the web flattening device employed to keep the web fiat in crossing the projection aperture;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing another form of ,web flattening device; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 5.

The numeral i represents a web or tape which is preferably a thin transparent or translucent flexible sheet of Cellophane or like material. Instead of Cellophane, I may employ glacine paper which is not.quite so expensive as the Cellophane acters on the web in the usual manner. At the conclusion of the printing of one line, the printing wheel is moved back across the width of the web to initial position at the left side thereof, Fig. 3. At the same time the web is moved along a distance suflicient to allow a proper space-between the line just completed and the line to be printed underneath it. The arrangement for this web feed as employed in the usual Dow-Jones ticker has been modified as described below, but the source of power and the connections leading up to the first beveled gear 5of the web-feeding device is preferably the same-as employed in the Fig. 2).

but it is not capable of transmitting the light as well as Cellophane; consequently, with glacine paper, the light intensity on the screen is somewhat diminished. Giacine paper has the advantage, however, that strips thereof may be preserved as records and the printed characters thereon easily read when that becomes-necessary.

This translucent web l is to receive lines of printing, for example, in the usual manner that such lines are provided by a Dow-Jones ticker or like device. I have shown a somewhat diagrammatic form of this ticker in the figures of the drawings and have designated it by the numeral 2. The well-known form of this ticker employs a printing wheel or roll 3 mounted on a shaft '4, the wheel 3 being reciprocated back and forth across the web l and, while being moved from left to right, Fig. 3, printing letters or other char- 5 usual Dow-Jones ticker and is not shown herein. The mechanism which is not shown herein may be seen by reference to the co-pending application of Frank E. Halloran, Ser. No. 453,121 filed May 17,- '1930. The connections for operating the printing wheel may also be seen by reference to the co-pending application just mentioned.

On the shaft 4 is the beveled gear 5 meshing with a second beveled gear 6 supported on the end of a short vertical shaft 1 heldby brackets 8 on a substantially rectangular vertical frame a. Mounted on the opposite end of the vertical shaft I is another beveled gear l0 mounted to mesh witha beveled gear II. The latter is attached to the end of a horizontal shaft l2 set practically at right angles to the shaft 1, which horizontal shaft is supported at it and M on frame 9 near either end thereof. Positioned on this horizontal shaft and spaced a short distance from either end thereof is a pair of knurled rollers l5, It (see These knurled rollers are'omthe side of the web towards the lamp as will be described later. Rollers ll and it are supported, respectively, by arms l9 and 20 which in turn are supported on a horizontal shaft Zl adjacent the opposite ends thereof, theend of each arm being a sleeve surrounding the shaft 2i. These sleeves are engaged, respectively, by helical springs 22 and 23 whereby the roller I1 is biased toward the roller l6 and the roller I8 is biased toward the roller IS. The helical springs are wound around the shaft 2! andact upon the arms l9 and 20 thereby holding the rollers il and it against the web I and pressing this web tightly against the knurled rollers l6 and l5. Upon rotation of the shaft l2 the knurled rollers l6 and I5 rotate and the web being pressed thereagainst by the rollers I1 and I8 is fed verticallytherebetween, Fig. 1. This vertical feed causes the web, after leaving does each time the printing wheel has finished, its line of printing across the web as will be dethe printing wheel 3, as it scribed below, to 'move vertically across the frame 9 so that light passing through an aperture in this frame will cause images of the printed matter to be projected to a screen for observation by spectators.

The projecting means for passing light rays through the Cellophane or other web on which theprinted matter appears is housed in an aluminum or other casing 24 which isin the form of a substantially oblong box or head with a narrowed throat portion forming the lower part thereof. This casing is supported by an upright pedestal 25. The casing and its support, the ticker and the other parts of the projecting and reflecting system, including mirrors, will be described later and may all conveniently be placed in a cabinet similar to that described in the copending application of Edward H. Unkles, Scr. No. 325,551, filed Dec. 12, 1928.

The projecting means comprises preferably a single incandescent lamp 26 Provided with a reflector 21 therebehind supported on the wall of the casing 24 and projecting light through a first condensing lens 28 and then through a second condensing lens 29 cut off to the extent of about one-quarter of its height. The lamp is supportedin a conventional socket seated in -the throat of the casing 24 and the lens 28 is mounted on suitable supports on the side walls of this casing. The lens 29 occupies an aperture in the front wall of the casing 24 and is also supported by brackets extending from the side wall thereof.

The frame 9 is mounted on the upper part of I the housing for the ticker 2 and the ticker is swung so that the frame 9 nearly abuts the lens 29. The frame 9 defines a rectangular aperture 30' through which the light rays from the lamp pass, this aperture allowing the light rays to project a rectangular field upon which images of matter printed on the web appear.

It is important that the web I as it passes across the aperture 39 shall be tightly held with its edges flattened against the face of the frame 9. For this purpose -I have provided as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, a pair of rollers 3| and 32 held by arms 33 and 34, respectively, which arms are supported by brackets 35 and 36, respectively. The arms 33 and 34 each have extending therethrough a pin 31 which is surrounded by a coil spring 38 arranged to so bias the arms that the rollers 3| and 32 press against that face of the web I away from the lamp 26. The face of the web I toward the lamp 26 is pressed by these rollers 3| and 32 against the adjacent face of the frame Sand the web is thus kept in distended tight flattened condition as it passes across the aperture 30. By passing the web in this flattened condition across the aperture, it results that the images are so projected that they appear finally on the screen without blurring. The rollers 3I and 32 are preferably provided with peripheral faces of rubber 39 which aids them in gripping the web and holding it flat against the frame 9. This is particularly desirable where Cellophane is used as this is a glossy and slippery form of material. It is not necessary to use these rollers with glacine paper although of course they may be used with this latter, if desired. Instead of the rollers 3| and 32, a formof spring 40 shown in Figs. and 6 may be employed. This spring 40 is also supported on the'frame 9 and is somewhat in the form of a U, one end being mounted on a vertical bar 4| attached to the frame 9 and en gaged by screws 42 around which the end of the spring 40 is wound, the other end of the spring 40 being in the form of a loop to press the web I against the frame 9. One of these springs 40 is provided on either side of the frame and a section of each projects obliquely'of the web I and I lies against the face thereof away from the lamp 25, the rear face being pressed against the frame 9. Whichever of the devices, just discussed, the rollers or the springs, are used, they are placed near the lower part of the frame so that as the web passes the aperture 30 it has a support on the one hand by these flattening devices at the bottom of the aperture and is supported between the driving and pressing rolls I5, I6, I! and I8 near the upper part of the aperture.

The light beam passing through the printed web I is received by a mirror 44 angularly set so that it will receive all of the light passing through the web and will throw the light beam upwardly through an objective lens 45 which is carried by a U-shaped member 45a, Fig. 2, pivoted on a rod 46 supported in opposite side walls of the casing 24. The member 45a comprises a pair of downwardly inclined arms 45b'to which the aforesaid mirror 44 is secured. The member 45a, the objective lens 45 and the mirror 44 are shown in Fig. 1 in normal operating position, further counter-clockwise movement thereof, Fig. 1, about the pivot rod 46 being prevented by a suitable stop arrangement which, as herein shown, comprises lugs 46a, 48a, Fig. 2, projecting laterally from opposite walls of the casing 24 for supporting said member 45a. The member 45a, objective lens 45 and mirro 44 are movable together as a unit. Accordingly, when it becomes necessary to thread the web I into projecting position, .the above recited parts may be swung in aclockwise direction, Fig. 1, about the pivot rod 46 whereupon said web I may be placed in projecting position, that is, between the frame 9 and the rollers ill and 32, and between the pairs of rollers l5, I8 and I6, I1. After the web I is thus placed in projecting position, the member 45a may be returned to its position shown on the drawings whereby the objective lens 45 and mirror 44 are returned to their proper projecting positions, respectively.

The mirror or mirrors preferably employed beyond the objective lens 45 are not shown as they may be of any'usual and well known type. v The light after leaving the last mirror of the mirror system passes directly on to and through a screen, not shown, but which maybe as shown in the application of Unkles mentioned above. Upon this screen the images of the printed web characters may be viewed by the spectators.

After leaving the aperture 39, the tape I passes vertically upwards to a runway which is preferably of metal and constitutes a top for the casing 24. This runway for convenience in mounting is made in two sections 41 and 48, the top of the runway'49 being preferably sloped from the end on to which the web first comes towards the end from which the web leaves. The web spills down over this latter. end and the weight of the accumulated web tends to keep the web passing over the runway flat against the run way. The heat waves developed by the lamp 26 pass upwardly under the surface of runway 49 and, as a result, the wet ink on the web is dried. It usually requires about five to ten minutes for a given section of the web to pass entirely over 'this'runway so that there is ample opportunity 2,283,145 smudging due to undried condition of the printing fluid. This is important in connection with hard surface web such as Cellophaneand glacine paper since they do not readily absorb the print ing ink and if not dried, may be easily smudged in the handling so that the record thereon is impaired. A door 50 is provided in the'casing 24 which may be opened to allow heat to pass therethrough if the device becomes too hot from continuous operation.

The operation of the apparatus should be obvious and clear from the description given. To briefly summarize it, however, the web I is fed by the web-feeding system I 5, l6, I1, l8 past the aperture 30. The feeding is intermittent and occurs when the printing roller has reached the end of a line traveling across the web. At. that time the roller is actuated to drive the shafts 1 and I2. Shaft It causes the web-feeding means l5, l6, I1, and I8 to operate sufliciently to move the web vertically so that the printing roller may then proceed with the printing of the next line. In so doing, of course, the uppermost line of printed matter which has been in thefield framedby the frame 9, is moved out of this field and'a new line of reading matter is brought into the field at the lower part of the frame. The field framed by frame 9 together with the web section defined thereby is traversed by a beam of light from lamp 26 and lens system 28 and 29, the light beam then engaging the mirror 44, thereafter passing through the objective lens 45 and then coacting with one or more mirrors before engaging the screen. The web after leaving the projection field gradually passes over the runway and then drops by gravity to a place where it may be collected, cut up into sections and hung up as a record to be read if desired.

mg said rollers.

frame providing a projection aperture across which said web passes, a shaft having feeding rollers mounted on said frame for moving said web across said aperture, said rollers being adapted to contact with one heldrollers contacting weband mounted on saidframe to press said web against said feed rollers, said feed rollers and a side of said web, resiliently source of power for driving the web past said aperture and on to said runway, whereupon said web after drying passes by gravity to a place where it is collected.

4. In a projection system, a web to receive printing in transverse lines, a printing roll for printing lines transversely of said web, a frame providing a projection aperture across which said web passes, web-feeding means operating to move said web across said aperture, and a resilient device on each side of the lower part of said frame for pressing the edges of said web'against said frame to hold it in flattened condition while it passes said aperture, said web-feeding means and the resilient devices being positioned on opposite sides of said projection aperture.

The apparatus is a simple and eflicient one.

Projection of light through the transparent web permits a high light intensity on the screen and this can be done with the use of a single bulb.

The installation cost and maintenance cost of the apparatus is such as to make it practical. The parts involved in the apparatus can be easily gotten at for replacement or repair, while the device is compact and may be placed in a brokers oifice or other desired location without taking up much space.

While I have'described my improvements in detail and with respect to preferred forms thereof, I do not desire to be limited to such details or forms, since many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broader aspects.

Hence I desire to cover all modifications and forms coming within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

What is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent; is:

1. In a projection system, a web to receive printing in lines, a printing roll for printing lines transversely of said web, means for'moving said printing roll to reciprocate across said web, a frame providing a projection aperture across which said web passes, and feeding rollers mounted. in pairs on said frame and arranged to receive the respective opposite sides of said web therebetween to cause the feeding of said web after the printing roll has reached the end of its line of printing. 1

2. In a projection system, a web to receive printing in lines, a printing roll for printing lines transversely of said web, means for moving said printing roll to reciprocate across said web, a

5. In a projection system, a web to receive printing in transverse lines, a printing roll for printing lines transversely of said web, a frame providing a projection aperture across which said web passes, web-feeding means operating to move said web across said aperture, positioned spring-held roller on each side of the lower part of said frame for pressing the edges of said web against said frame to hold it in flattened condition while it passes said aperture, said web-feeding means and the spring-held rollers being positioned on opposite sidesof said projection aperture.

6. In a projection system, a web to receive lines of printing, a printing roll for printing lines transversely of said web, a shaft for said printing roll and operated from a source of power, a webfeeding shaft having feed rollers thereon contacting with the web on one side, spring-held rollers contacting with the web on the other side thereof to move the-web toward said feed rollers, projecting means comprising a lamp and a series of lenses, a frame having an aperture, a

pressed rollers positioned near the lower side of said frame and in front thereof pressing diagonally across the opposite edges of said webto keep the web stretched and vfiat, and a drying device over the top of said casing. to dry the I printing on said web and to pass it along to be in the direct field of heat radiated from said with the other side of said and connections between slanting runway for and an obliquely casing .covering the projecting means, a pair of springsource of heat whereby drying of the ink on the tape is facilitated.

8. In combination, means for printing characters on a tape with ink, said tape being formed from material highly resistant to the penetrating action of ink, means forming a projection aperture with respect to and by which said tape is by said projection aperture, and a support traversed by said tape after passage beyond said projection aperture, said support being in the direct field of heat, radiated from said source of light whereby drying of the ink on the tape is facilitated.

10. In combination, means'for printing characters on a tape with ink, said tape being formed from material highly resistant to the penetrating action of ink, means forming a projection aperture with respect to and by which said tape is moved, a source of light for passing a light beam into engagement with a tape section defined by said projection aperture, and means whereby heat from said source of light dries the ink on a section of said tape while removed from said projection aperture.

11. Projection apparatus comprising a projection field with respect to which a character-bearing tape is movable, coacting roller means engaging opposite sides of said tape for effecting passage of and guiding the tape through said projection field, a mirror for reflecting a light beam emanating from the section of said tape in said projection field, an objective lens traversed by the reflected light beam, a frame carrying said objective lens, and means for movably mounting said frame whereby said objective lens may be moved aside when it becomes necessary to position said tape in said projection apparatus, said frame having a normal position which determines the projection position of said objective lens and said frame being movable without imparting movement to said roller means.

12. Projection apparatus comprising a projection field with respect to which a character-bearing tape is movable, coacting roller means engaging opposite sides of said tape for effecting passage of and guiding the tape through said projection field, a mirror for reflecting a light beam emanating from the section of said tape in said projection field, an objective lens traversed by the reflected light beam, a frame carrying said mirror, and means for movably mounting said frame whereby said mirror'may be moved aside when it becomes necessary to position said tape in said projection apparatus, said frame having a normal position which determines the projection position of said mirror and said frame'being movable without imparting movement to said roller means.

13. Projection apparatus comprising a projection field with respect to which a characterbearing tape is movable, coacting roller means engaging opposite sides of said tape for effecting passage of and guiding the tape through said projection field, a mirror for reflecting a light beam emanating from the section of said tape in said projection field, an objective lens traversed by the reflected light beam, a frame carrying said mirror and objective lens, and means for movably mounting said frame whereby said mirror and said objective lens may be moved aside when it becomes necessary to position said tape in said projection apparatus, said frame having. 9. normal position which determines the respective projection positions of said mirror and said objective lens and said frame being movable without imparting movement-to said roller means.

14. Projection apparatus comprising a projection field with respect to which a characterbearing tape is movable, coacting roller means engaging opposite sides'of said tape for effecting passage of and guiding ,the tape through said projection field, a mirror for reflecting a light beam emanating from the sectionof said tape in said projection field, an objective lens traversed by the reflected light beam, a frame carrying said mirror and objective lens, and means for pivotally mounting said frame abouta horizontal axis on the lamp housing of saidprojection apparatus. whereby said mirror and said objective lens may be swung aside vertically when it becomes necessary to position said tape in said projection apparatus, said frame having a normal position which determines the respective projection positions of said mirrdr and objective lens and said frame being movable without imparting movement to said roller means.

15. In combination, means for printing characters on a tape with ink, means forming a pro-1 jection aperture with respect to and by which said tape is moved, a source of heat, and a sup port traversed by said tape after passage ,beyond said projection aperture, said support being in the direct field of heat radiated from said source of heat whereby drying of the ink on the tape is web and gripping the respective opposite edges thereof adjacent the respective entranceicorners of said projection field said web-retarding means being disposed between the printing means and the projection field, said drawing means and said web-retarding means cooperating to produce a relatively fiat web section suitable for projection purposes.

17. The combination with means for printing characters in line form transversely of a broad web, of means for drawing said web through a projection field, said drawing means gripping the web at the respective opposite edges thereof adjacent the respective exit corners of said projection field, and web-retarding means engaging the web and gripping the respective opposite edges thereof adjacent the respective entrance corners of said projection field, said web-retarding means being disposed between the printing means and the projection field whereby vibrations imparted to the web by said printing means are largely prevented from entering said projection field, said drawing means and said web-retarding means cooperating to produce a relatively fiat web section suitable for projection purposes.

18. The combination with means for printing characters in line form transversely of a broad web, of means for drawing said web through a projection field, said drawing means gripping the web at the respective opposite edges thereof adjacent the respective exit comers of said projection field, and web-retarding means engaging the web and gripping the respective opposite edges thereof adjacent the respective entrance comers of said projection field, said web-retarding means being disposed between the printing means and the projection field whereby vibrations imparted to the web by said printing means are largely prevented from entering said projection field, said drawing means and said webretarding means cooperating to produce a relatively fiat web section suitable for projection purposes, said web being of transparent or translucent character suitable for through projection and the projection path on opposite sides of said projection field being suitably transparent for the passage of the projecting light beam.

19. The combination with means for printing characters with ink in line form transversely of a broad web, of means for drawing said web through a projection field disposed in substane tially a vertical direction, said drawing means' gripping the web at the respective opposite edges thereof adjacent the respective exit corners of said projection field, and web-retarding means engaging the web and gripping the respective opposite edges thereof adjacent the respective entrance corners of said projection field, said webretarding means being disposed between the printing means and the projection field whereby vibrations imparted to the web by said printing means are largely prevented from entering said projection field, said drawing means and said web-retarding means cooperating to produce a relatively fiat web section suitable for projection purposes, said web. being of transparent or transa projecting machine, of a broad tape, a printer for printing a plurality of lines of printed matter on said tape, said light aperture being disposed at the tape discharge end of said printer, a condensing lens disposed adjacent to said light aperture with a segment cut oil adjacent one side of the effective focusing area of said lens to clear said printer and yet permit location of the light aperture directly adjacent to the tape discharge end of the printer, and means for drawing the tape through said light aperture from the tape discharge end of said printer in a direction transverse to the direction of the lines of printed matter.

21. The combination with the light aperture of a projecting machine, of a broad tape, a printer for printing a plurality of lines of printed matter on said tape, said light aperture being disposed at the tape discharge end 01' said printer, a condensing lens disposed adjacent to said light aperture with a segment cut of! adjacent one side of the e fective Iocusing area of s id lens to clear said printer and yet' permit location of the light aperture directly adjacent to the tape discharge end of the printer, and means for drawing the tape a line space at a time across said light aperture.

22. In combination with the light aperture of a projecting machine, a broad tape, a printer for printing a pluralityof lines of printed matter on and thereafter discharging said tape, said light aperture extending approximately in a vertical direction above said printer at the tape discharge end thereof, a condensing lens disposed in'line with said light aperture with a segment cut from the lower side of the'efiective focusing area of said lens, said lower side of the lens being disposed immediately adjacent the tape discharge end of the printer, and means for drawing the tape upwardly through said light aperture from the tape discharge end of said printer in a directiontransverse to the direction of the lines of printed matter.

23. In combination with the light aperture of Q a projecting machine having a screen on which light images are to be projected, a broad tape,

a printer for printing a ,plurality of lines of printed matter on and thereafter discharging said tape, said light aperture being disposed adjacent the tape discharge end of said printer, a condensing lens disposed in line with said light aperture and having a segment cut off adjacent one side of the effective focusing area of said lens, said one side of the lens being disposed immediately adjacent the tape discharge end of said printer, means for drawing the tape step-by-step through said light aperture from the tape discharge end of said printer in a direction transverse to the.

direction of the lines of printed matter and a lamp from which a projecting light beam passes through said condensing lens, the light aperture, the tape section framed thereby and an objective lens, said light beam coacting with the projection screen and causing the display thereon of images of the lines of printed matter.

24. In combination with the light aperture of a projecting rnachine having a screen on whichlight images are to be projected, a broad tape,

a printer for printing a plurality of lines of printed matter on and thereafter discharging said tape, said light aperture extending in a vertical direction above said printer and adjacent the tape discharge end thereof, a condensing lens disposed in line with said light aperture, said lens having a segment cut from the lower side of its effective focusing area, said lower side being dicposed immediately adjacent the tape discharge end of the printer, means for drawing the tape upwardly through said light aperture from the tape discharge end of said printer in a direction transverse to the direction of the lines of printed matter, a lamp for passing a projecting light beam horizontally through said condensing lens, the light aperture and the tape section framed thereby, a second condensing lens disposed between said first named condensing lens and said lamp, and a mirror system including an objective lens with which said light beam'coacts to cause the display of images of the lines of printed matter on the projection screen.

FRANK E WELLER. 

